Acts 8:14

By sending Peter and John the apostles formally sanctioned the reception of the Samaritans into the Church. The Samaritans, though observing the Law, were almost entirely heathen in origin, so that the incident marks an important step towards admitting pure Gentiles.

15-17. This is the fullest account of the apostolic laying on of hands after baptism, which is more briefly described, Acts 19:6, and alluded to, Hebrews 6:2. In later times the ordinance was administered by bishops, and was called Confirmation, the Seal, and the Chrism. The author of Hebrews speaks of it as one of the first principles of the doctrine of Christ (Hebrews 6:2).